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Do you drive a car with a manual transmission? Becoming skilled at using the clutch pedal is the best prerequisite for passing the driving test. However, this alone is not enough to avoid the most common mistakes when using this type of gearbox.
That is why we are going to look at the 8 most common mistakes you could make when driving a car with a manual transmission.
NUMBER 8: LEAVING THE CAR IN GEAR AT A RED LIGHT
Admit it, when you stop at a traffic light, do you wait with the clutch pedal pressed down, first gear engaged, and your foot on the brake? Even if your driving instructor told you that this is the thing to do, you are actually wearing out and putting great strain on the clutch.
The best thing to do is to disengage the gear and leave it in neutral. Although the release bearing is generally designed to last longer than the clutch itself, it is still better not to keep the clutch depressed for prolonged periods, since it keeps the release bearing in contact with the diaphragm spring and can cause premature wear.
NUMBER 7: RESTING YOUR FOOT ON THE CLUTCH PEDAL
Some people tend to drive with their foot resting on the clutch pedal. This can cause the clutch release bearing to come into contact with the clutch cover, creating friction when it is not necessary and, over time, it will lead to noise and clutch failure, which has a high repair cost.
NUMBER 6: RELEASING THE CLUTCH TOO QUICKLY
This is quite a common problem for both experienced drivers and beginners. Releasing the clutch too abruptly will make the vehicle jerk while putting excessive pressure on the engine and the transmission. This process overheats the clutch, which over the long term can cause damage. With experience, however, you will learn to understand the clutch bite point and will therefore be able to drive more naturally and smoothly. You will then be able to control the car much better without stalling or jerking.
NUMBER 5: KEEPING YOUR HAND ON THE GEAR LEVER
When shifting gears, you probably don’t think twice about what is happening inside the manual gearbox. But every time you shift, a selector fork inside the gearbox comes into contact with the rotating parts to select the gear. Resting your hand on the gear lever while it is engaged could cause you to unintentionally apply pressure on the selector fork and other internal parts.
In the long term, this habit can accelerate the wear of gearbox components, leading to annoying noises or even a possible failure to engage a gear. So after shifting, remove your hand from the gear knob and put it back on the steering wheel, also for safety reasons.
That is why we are going to look at the 8 most common mistakes you could make when driving a car with a manual transmission.
NUMBER 8: LEAVING THE CAR IN GEAR AT A RED LIGHT
Admit it, when you stop at a traffic light, do you wait with the clutch pedal pressed down, first gear engaged, and your foot on the brake? Even if your driving instructor told you that this is the thing to do, you are actually wearing out and putting great strain on the clutch.
The best thing to do is to disengage the gear and leave it in neutral. Although the release bearing is generally designed to last longer than the clutch itself, it is still better not to keep the clutch depressed for prolonged periods, since it keeps the release bearing in contact with the diaphragm spring and can cause premature wear.
NUMBER 7: RESTING YOUR FOOT ON THE CLUTCH PEDAL
Some people tend to drive with their foot resting on the clutch pedal. This can cause the clutch release bearing to come into contact with the clutch cover, creating friction when it is not necessary and, over time, it will lead to noise and clutch failure, which has a high repair cost.
NUMBER 6: RELEASING THE CLUTCH TOO QUICKLY
This is quite a common problem for both experienced drivers and beginners. Releasing the clutch too abruptly will make the vehicle jerk while putting excessive pressure on the engine and the transmission. This process overheats the clutch, which over the long term can cause damage. With experience, however, you will learn to understand the clutch bite point and will therefore be able to drive more naturally and smoothly. You will then be able to control the car much better without stalling or jerking.
NUMBER 5: KEEPING YOUR HAND ON THE GEAR LEVER
When shifting gears, you probably don’t think twice about what is happening inside the manual gearbox. But every time you shift, a selector fork inside the gearbox comes into contact with the rotating parts to select the gear. Resting your hand on the gear lever while it is engaged could cause you to unintentionally apply pressure on the selector fork and other internal parts.
In the long term, this habit can accelerate the wear of gearbox components, leading to annoying noises or even a possible failure to engage a gear. So after shifting, remove your hand from the gear knob and put it back on the steering wheel, also for safety reasons.
NUMBER 4: USING THE CLUTCH TO HOLD THE CAR ON A HILL
If you have to stop while driving on an uphill stretch, you need to make sure your car does not start rolling backwards. Many drivers will do this by holding the clutch at the bite point to stay steady on the incline. In this way, however, you are burning the friction material on the clutch disc, since the clutch is spinning at one speed while the engine flywheel is moving at another. In addition, you might accidentally roll backwards into another car if you lose the bite point. So if you have to stop, apply the handbrake to keep the car still until it is time to set off.
Many modern cars with manual transmissions are equipped with hill-start assist technology. This will keep the car stationary for a couple of seconds after the handbrake is released, giving you time to move your foot onto the accelerator without the car rolling backwards.
NUMBER 3: PRESSING THE ACCELERATOR AT LOW ENGINE RPM
If you are driving at low speed and low RPM, it is not a good idea to suddenly press down on the accelerator pedal.
By doing so, you are sending conflicting messages to your vehicle. At low RPM, your car “thinks” it should be relaxing, while instead your foot is telling it to work very hard. This causes excessive stress on the engine, which will eventually affect its health. If you need to increase speed, it is better to downshift one or two gears and then accelerate. In this case too, experience is useful, since over time you will develop the ability to understand which gear corresponds to a certain speed and RPM.
NUMBER 2: DRIVING DOWNHILL IN NEUTRAL
It used to be quite common to save fuel by coasting downhill in neutral. But the fuel systems of modern cars do not allow this, because it is not energy efficient. Moreover, it is also dangerous because you do not have full control of the car; in fact, you would not be able to accelerate to escape from a dangerous situation and you would also lose engine braking, risking overheating the brakes when going downhill.
NUMBER 1: BRAKING WITHOUT USING THE CLUTCH
Usually, when you brake and decelerate, the engine speed decreases together with the car, and if it gets too low, the car will stall. Therefore, it is important to press the clutch before this happens. Otherwise, the car will stall and turn off.
We have analyzed the most common mistakes that drivers make when driving a car with a manual transmission. Were you aware of these mistakes? Have you heard of other driving habits that can damage the vehicle and in particular the gearbox? Let us know below in the comments.
If this video was useful to you, let us know by leaving a like and a comment, you can also share it, and don’t forget to subscribe to our channel.
If you have to stop while driving on an uphill stretch, you need to make sure your car does not start rolling backwards. Many drivers will do this by holding the clutch at the bite point to stay steady on the incline. In this way, however, you are burning the friction material on the clutch disc, since the clutch is spinning at one speed while the engine flywheel is moving at another. In addition, you might accidentally roll backwards into another car if you lose the bite point. So if you have to stop, apply the handbrake to keep the car still until it is time to set off.
Many modern cars with manual transmissions are equipped with hill-start assist technology. This will keep the car stationary for a couple of seconds after the handbrake is released, giving you time to move your foot onto the accelerator without the car rolling backwards.
NUMBER 3: PRESSING THE ACCELERATOR AT LOW ENGINE RPM
If you are driving at low speed and low RPM, it is not a good idea to suddenly press down on the accelerator pedal.
By doing so, you are sending conflicting messages to your vehicle. At low RPM, your car “thinks” it should be relaxing, while instead your foot is telling it to work very hard. This causes excessive stress on the engine, which will eventually affect its health. If you need to increase speed, it is better to downshift one or two gears and then accelerate. In this case too, experience is useful, since over time you will develop the ability to understand which gear corresponds to a certain speed and RPM.
NUMBER 2: DRIVING DOWNHILL IN NEUTRAL
It used to be quite common to save fuel by coasting downhill in neutral. But the fuel systems of modern cars do not allow this, because it is not energy efficient. Moreover, it is also dangerous because you do not have full control of the car; in fact, you would not be able to accelerate to escape from a dangerous situation and you would also lose engine braking, risking overheating the brakes when going downhill.
NUMBER 1: BRAKING WITHOUT USING THE CLUTCH
Usually, when you brake and decelerate, the engine speed decreases together with the car, and if it gets too low, the car will stall. Therefore, it is important to press the clutch before this happens. Otherwise, the car will stall and turn off.
We have analyzed the most common mistakes that drivers make when driving a car with a manual transmission. Were you aware of these mistakes? Have you heard of other driving habits that can damage the vehicle and in particular the gearbox? Let us know below in the comments.
If this video was useful to you, let us know by leaving a like and a comment, you can also share it, and don’t forget to subscribe to our channel.